Ventilating device for cars and the like



Nov. 23, 1937. N. L. WILLER VENTILATING DEVIC-E FOR CARS AND THE LIKE Filed June 3, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nav. 23, 193.7."` QQL'wiLL VENTILATING DEV-I CE-FR CARS AND THE LIKE Fil'ed June' s, ,19:55 4 sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 23, 1937. N. 1 WILLI-:R

VENTILATING DEVICE FOR CARS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 3. l19255 Nov.. 23, 1.937. N, L wlLLE-R 2,099,917

` VENTILATING DEVICE FOR CARS AND THE LIKE `Filfecl June 5, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 cf* f2 J9 ,/Z/ i 4@ H x zo /Z 1 f7 `i Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE Nicholas L. Willer, Chicago, lll., assignor to Railway Utility Company, Chicago, `Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 3, 1935, Serial No. 24,593

12 Claims.

This invention relates to Ventilating devices for cars, buses and the like, and it has to do especially with devices of this character adapted to be mounted on the car roof or other suitable place where ventilation is required.

In some cases, cars are equipped with blower systems adapted to force air into the car for heating and/or Ventilating the same. In systems of this character, the car may be so tightly closed that an excess air pressure may be built up therein, which together with the natural accumulation of foul and impure air (especially when the car is crowded with passengers), is highly objectionable.

It is one of the-objects of this invention to provide a Ventilating device that will avoid the objectionable conditions above stated by exhausting air from the interior of the car adjacent the roof thereof when a pressure builds up therein above normal atmospheric pressure.

Another object is to provide a ventilator that is adapted to be associated with an opening in the car (preferably the roof thereof) and which provides a constantly open communication between the interior of the car and the outside air, but which is so constructed and arranged that, normally, outside atmospheric air will not be admitted to nor will air be exhausted from the interior ofV the car at any time or at any speed of the car, but air will be exhausted from the interior of the car when an excess air pressure is built up therein regardless of the speed of the car.

A further object is to provide a neutral ventilator oi the foregoing character that is adapted, in the performance of its functions, to prevent the exhaust of an excess amount of air from the interior of the car and to aid in maintaining a predetermined temperature and pressure condition within the car, whereby the interior of the car may be economically maintained in a comfortable condition at all times.

Still another object is to provide a device of the foregoing character that is of novel and simple construction, is of aninexpensive nature, and which operates in a highly efficient manner at all times.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings wherein,-

Fig. l is a top plan view of one form of ventilator structure embodying this invention, certain of the parts being cut away to more clearly illustrate the structure;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on lines 3-3 or' Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 Vis a View similar to Fig. 3, and showing a modied form of ventilator embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of another form of ventilator embodying the invention, certain of the parts being cut away to more clearly illustrate the structure;

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a View similar to Figs. 3, 4 and 6, showing still another form of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View of an additional form of my invention, the same being taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially on line 9--9 of Fig. 8.

The ventilator shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is mounted over an opening I9 in a car roof II. It will be understood that this invention may be used in connection with various kinds of cars and roof structures and that the roof opening may be of rectangular shape, as shown, or it may take any other suitable shape. The inner end of the roof opening ID is covered, preferably, by a perforated plate member I2, or any other screen-like structure.

The ventilator is so constructed and arranged that, normally, it neither admits air to nor exhausts it from the car; but when a pressure above normal atmospheric pressure is built up within the car, as in the use of a blower system such as above mentioned, the ventilator will function to exhaust air from the car until a normal pressure condition is established therein. In other words, the ventilator functions to maintain a normal air pressure within the car.

'Referring to the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the ventilator device takes the form of an elbow-shaped casing I3 formed preferably of sheet metal. Generally stated, the casing cludes a vertical neck portion that fits over the car opening Ill and a substantially horizontal and rectangularly-shaped portion that extends laterally along the car roof in slightly spaced relation thereto.

Specifically, the ventilator casing I3 includes an imperforate top wall I4 curving upwardly and laterally from the roof opening I0. The casing further includes a perforated bottom wall I5 having its side edge adjacent thecar opening I9 secured to an upstanding ange IB of a plate member I'I secured to the roof II. The ends of the casing are closed by imperforate walls I8, I9 which may be formed integrally with the top wall I4. These end walls, adjacent the bottom wall I5, are turned inwardly providing ilanges to which the end edges of the bottom wall are secured for further support of the latter. The end walls I8, i9, adjacent the car opening I are extended downwardly to the car roof and they, to-

along and past the flange into the car.

gether with the top wall I4, are provided with flanges 2l that are secured to the car roof around the opening IIJ.

vIt will be noted in Figs. 2 and 3 that the end walls I8, I9 and the flange I6 support the bo-ttom wall I5 in spaced and substantially parallel relation to the car roof. Also the flange I6 projects upwardly beyond the bottom walll and, with the top and end walls, defines a substantially vertical passageway 22 connecting with the.

`leaving a slight open space between these wall 'along the outer side of the ventilator.

In the use of Va structure like that so far described, there would be a tendency to exhaust air yfrom the car due to the aspirating eifect set up by air passing along the perforated bottom wall I5.within,the open-ended space between such wall and the car roof. This action, however, is undesirable under the conditions of use hereinabove stated and my invention contemplates the provision of means for neutralizing Ythe action above stated so that, normally, air will be neither admitted to nor exhausted from the car.

The structure for accomplishing the foregoing end will now be described with respect to the .form of structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

The bottom wall I5 is, preferably, formedY of two identical sections 25 and 25. These sections are supported at their outer edgesfin the manner a1- Vready described and they are supported at their inner edges by a baille member 26 of T-shape in .cross-section. Each of the sections 24 and 25 is provided with a plurality of rectangularly-shaped openings 21 and each section (at 2l!a and 25a) extends away from the T-stem portio-n of the baille member 26 for a short distance in substantially parallel relation to the car roof and is then bowed or curved upwardly or inwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 2. By forming the bottom wall I5 in this manner, the tendency to exhaust air from the car (due to air moving along the bot- Vtom wall) is reduced.

-Y The bale 26 is formed (preferably but not necessarily) of two angle pieces joined together to provide the desired T-shape, and the width of the horizontal webs 28, 2S of this baille are preferably substantially equal to the length of the adjacent horizontal portions 24a, 25a of they bottom wall sections 2li, 25. The baille member 25 is of Ysuillcient length 'to extend from the ilange YI6 to the outer side edge of the bottom wall I5. Also, the baille is sor mounted that the bottom of its T-stem portion adjacent the flange I6 is disposed flush with the lower side of the bottom wall, and from that point the lower edge of the T-stem portion of the baille extends diagonally toward and into engagement with the roof-carried plate member Il at the outer side edge of the bottom wall I5. In this manner, the space between the bottom Wall I5 and the car roof is divided into two similar spaces connected only by a'triangularly shaped opening 30 (Fig. 2) which is of greatest area adjacent the flange I6, from which point it is gradually restricted. It

nwill be understood that the baffle member 2'8 is provided with two, oppositely-directed deilecting surfaces 28, 29 in order to provide a similar action when the car is moving in either direction. Also, if desired, the portions of the baille member on opposite sides of the bottom wall may be separate parts.

The action set up by the foregoing structure is a peculiar one. By demonstration it has been shown that in the use of this structure, a neutral or quiescent air condition is set up in the ventilator casing adjacent the car opening Iii under normal pressure conditions within the car so that there is neither movement of air into or out of the car through the Ventilator. I believe that this action is due, in part, to the partitioning of the space between the ventilator bottom wall I5 and the car roof and the graduated communication between the space portions formed by the partitioning baille 26. I further believe that this action is aided, in part, by the deflecting action afforded by the flanges 2S, 29 of the T-head portion of the baie 2E. to say, it appears that, in the operation of this device, any tendency for air to exhaust from the ventilator or either side of the baille 26 is offset by air admitted through the action of the baille; and vice versa, any tendency of air to enter the ventilator by action of the baille 26 is off-set by the tendency of the ventilator structure to exhaust air from the carall of which action takes place, obviously, outwardly beyond the ilange Iii. However, the air condition within the ventilator is so sensitively balanced that, as soon as the pressure in the car builds up beyond normal atmospheric pressure, the ventilator will function as a relief means and exhaust air until a normal pressure condition is established within the car.

It has also been found that other forms of the invention, certain of which are shown in Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, produce good results. In Fig. 4, there is shown a structure similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, except as to the shape of the bottom plate 3i. Speciilcally, the bottom plate 3l is provided with openings 32 that are of general rectangular shape, but the material forming the side edges thereof is bowed upwardly in the general direction of the bowing of the bottom wall. It is believed that by thus bowing the defining edges of these openings, so that the bowed portions of the bottom wall 3i take an irregular escalloped-like shape, tendency toward exhausting action through aspirating eilect is further minimized.

The modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is similar to that of Figs. l to 3, inclusive, except for the structure of the baifling means. Specically, this structure includes a casing 33 like the casing I3 of the inst-described form and a bottom wall 34 similar to the bottom wall l5, except that it is formed of one piece. The baffle means takes the form of a pair of baille members 35 secured to the under-central portion of That is the bottom wall 34 and arranged in a V-shaped formation with the apex thereof located at the outer side edge of the bottom wall 34. The bafile members 35 are also so shaped that their bottom edges extend diagonally downward from the lower side of the inner side edge of the bottom Wall toward and into engagement with the car roof providing a graduated opening, like the opening 3E! of Fig. 2, interconnecting the spaces 36, 3l on the opposite sides of the baille members 35.

The baille means further includes a deector device 38 of V-shape in cross-section mounted upon the bottom plate 34 directly above the baille members 35. This deector member 38 provides angular deflecting surfaces directly above the baille members 35 thereby establishing a baflling and deecting relationship similar to that oi the first-described form which insures a neutralizing action Within the ventilator.

The structure shown in Fig. '7 is like that of Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, except for `the construction of the bottom wall 33. More particularly, the bottom wall 39 includes a pair of similar sections supported at their end edges by flanges 4@ of the casing end Wall 4I. The other end edges of these sections are supported by the T- stem portion 42 of a bailledeflector means 43 similar to the deilector baille 26 of the form of Figs. l to 3, inclusive. Each bottom wall section adjacent the baille-deflector member is provided with a horizontal portion 44 of a length substantially equal to the width of the deflector arms 45 of the member 43. Outwardly, beyond the horizontal portions 44, the bottom wall sections are provided with laterally extending, angular ridges 6 having openings Vil formed in their side walls. In the use of a structure of this kind, as the car moves along in either drection, there is a tendency for air, in passing through the space 4B between the bottom wall and the car roof to deflect and enter the openings Ill. However, it is believed by providing the openings in the sides of the ridges that a neutralizing eect is established in that air entering, for example, the irst opening d will tend to pass out through the succeeding or opposed opening b, and so on with respect to the succeeding openings c, d, etc. It is also believed that this form of bottom wall may aid somewhat in the neutralizing action set up by the remainder oi the ventilator structure.

In Figs. 8 and 9 there is shown a structure similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, except for the baille-deflector means. More particularly, this bafile-deilector means includes a pair of baille members 49 secured in spaced parallel relation to the underside of the bottom wall 50 approximately at the juncture of the horizontal and curved portions and 52 of the bottom Wall. These baffle members are so shaped lengthwise (Fig. 8) that their bottom edges extend diagonally from the lowerrside of the bottom plate adjacent the ilange 53 diagonally downward toward and into engagement with the car roof 56 at the outer edge of the bottom plate, providing a graduated space 54, similar to the space 30 (Figs. 1 to 3), interconnecting the space sections 55 on the opposite sides of the deflector members and between the bottom Wall 5G and the car roof 56.

The deflector-bale means further includes a deflecting member 5l formed preferably (but not necessarily) of` a pair of angle pieces arranged to provide a member of T`shape in crosssection. This deflecting member is connected to the inner side edges of the bottom plate sections 58 and it has a pair of deflecting arms 59 directly above the baille members 49 arranged in parallel relation to the bottom wall surfaces 5I. This structure provides an air deflection action similar to that afforded by the deflecting arms 28, 29 of the baille 26 of Figs. l to 3, inclusive. Also, the baille members 49 appear to function similarly to the portion of the T-stem part of the baille 25 (Figs. 1 to 3) that extends beneath the bottom plate I5 of the rst described form.

It is believed that the operation and advantages of this invention will be understood from the foregoing description. In the use of the invention a comfortable air condition may be maintained within the car where mechanical means, such as blower systems, etc., are employed for airconditioning the car. In maintaining a constant pressure condition within the car, foul and impure air is released. Also structure embodying the invention is fully effective regardless of the direction of movement of the car.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described various forms of the invention, other changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened by the claims that follow.

I claim:

l. A Ventilator adapted to be associated with a Ventilating opening in a car or the like, comprising a casing having an open end adapted to be connected to the car opening, said casing also having a wall with aspirating openings therein and along which outside air sweeps as the car moves along,there being a tendency to exhaust air through said wall openings as the car moves along, and means directly associated with said Wall and projecting both above and below said openings for neutralizing the tendency of air to exhaust through said openings.

2. A ventilator adapted to be associated with a Ventilating opening in a car or the like, comprising a casing having an open end adapted to be connected to the car opening, said casing having a bottom wall disposed laterally from the car opening and in spaced relation to the car providing a comparatively shallow space through which air passes as the car moves along, said'- bottom wall having openings therein tending normally to cause exhaust of air from said casing, and means for neutralizing any tendency to exhaust air from or admit it to the car through said casing including a baille surface in said shallow space, and a deilecting surface within said casing above said baille surface.

3. A ventilator adapted to be associated with a Ventilating opening in a car or the like, comprising a casing having an open end adapted to be connected to the car opening, said casing having a bottom Wall disposed laterally from the car opening and in spaced relation to the car providing a comparatively shallow space through which air passes as the car moves along, said bottom wall having openings therein tending normally to cause exhaust of air from said casing, and means for neutralizing any tendency to exhaust air from or admit it to the car throughy said casing including a baffle element on the underside of said bottom Wall extending centrally and laterally thereof at substantially right angles to the direction of flow of air through said space beneath said bottom wall, and a dellecting element on the upper side of said bottom Wall above said baille element, said deflecting element having oppositely directed and horizontallydirected deflecting surfaces above and in spaced relation to said bottom wall on opposite sides of said vbaiiie element.

4. A ventilator adapted to be associated with a Ventilating opening in a car or the like, comprising a casing having an open end adapted to be connected to the car opening, said casing having a bottom wall disposed laterally from the car opening and in spaced relation to the car providing a comparatively shallow space through which air passes as the car moves along, said bottom wall having openings therein, baffle means disposed in said shallow space obstructing the free flow of air along said bottom wall from one end tothe other end thereof, and deflector means within said casing above said baille means and having a defiecting surface extending at substantially right angles to said baille means in spaced relation to said bottom wall.

5. A Ventilator adapted to be associated with a Ventilating opening in a car or the like, comprising a casing having an open end adapted to be connected to the car opening, said casing having a bottom wall disposed laterally from the car opening and in spaced relation to the car providing a comparatively shallow space through which air passes as the car moves along, said bottom wall having openings therein, baffle means on the underside-oiand extending laterally of said bottom wall dividing said shallow space into two substantially equal portions, said baffle means being so constructed that it extends diagonally downwardfrom the innerside edge of said bottom wall toward the car roof at the outer edge of said bottom wall providing a triangularly-shaped opening interconnecting the space portions on the opposite sides of said bailie means, and deflecting means in said casing having a deecting surface extending above said bottom wall at an angle to said baffle means in spaced relation to Y said bottom wall and extending in the direction of movement of the car.

6. A ventilator adapted to be associated with a Ventilating opening in a car, or the like, comprising a casing having an open end connected to the car opening and also having a bottom wall extending laterally from the car opening in spaced relation to the car roof, said bottom wall having openings therein, a member having a substantially vertical portion which extends both above and below said bottom wall and a substantially horizontal portion extending within said casing in the direction of car movement and in spaced and substantially parallel relation to said bottom wall, said member extending throughout the width of said bottom wall and being so located relative to the latter that the bottom edge of its vertical portion extends from substantially flush with the innerside edge of said bottom wall diagonally downward toward and into engagement with the car roof at the outerside edge of said bottom side wall.

7. A ventilator adapted to be associated with a Ventilating opening in a car, or the like, comprising a casing having an open end connected to the car opening and also having a bottom wall extending laterally from the car opening in spaced relation to the car roof, said bottom wall having openings therein over which air passes as the car moves along thereby tending, normally, to exhaust air from the ventilator and car, and means neutralizing said exhaust tendency which includes a member having a substantially vertical portion extending through said bottom wall at the center portion thereof and a substantially horizontal portion extending within said casing in the direction of car movement and in spaced relation to said bottom wall, said member extending throughout the width of said bottom wall and being so located relative to the latter that its bottom edge extends from substantially flush with the innerside edge of said bottom wall diagonally downward toward and into engagement with the car roof at the outerside edge of said bottom side wall, said bottom wall beneath the horizontal portion of said member being substantially parallel with the car roof with the remainder thereof bowed inwardly within said casing.

8. A ventilator adapted to be associated with a Ventilating opening in the roof of a car, or the like, which comprises a casing having an open end adapted to be connected to the Ventilating opening, and also having a bottom wall extending laterally away from the Ventilating opening in spaced and substantially parallel relation to the car roof, an upstanding ange member at the innerside edge of said bottom wall and partitioning sai-d wall from the Ventilating opening, said ange extending upwardly above said bottom wall and provided with an upper edge portion of inverted U-shape in cross-section directly above the bottom wall providing a Weather, and the like, trap, said bottom wall having openings therein through which there is a normal exhaust tendency as the car moves along, and means for neutralizing said exhaust tendency so that air, normally, is neither exhausted from nor admitted to the car through said casing, which comprises a member of T-shape in cross-section extending substantially throughout the width of said bottom wall, said member being so positioned with respect to the bottom wall that its 'If-head portion is disposed within said casing and its T-stem portion extends from substantially flush with the underside of said bottom wall adjacent said ange diagonally toward and substantially into engagement with the roof at the outerside edge of sai-d bottom wall.

9. In a ventilator of the character described, a casing having one end adapted to be connected to the Ventilating opening of a car, and having a laterally-extending bottom wall adapted to be disposed in slightly spaced relation with respect to the car, said bottom wall having a plurality of rectangularly-shaped openings therein, and means for neutralizing the tendency of air to exhaust from or to enter the car through said casing which comprises a member of T-shape in cross-section extending laterally and centrally throughout the width of said bottom wall with its T-head portion located within the casing and its T-stem portion extending, in part, diagonally beneath said bottom wall, said bottom wall on the opposite sides of said member being similarly bowed inwardly, and the edges of said bottom wall openings within said bowed portions extending lengthwise of said bottom wall being separately bowed.

10. In a ventilator of the character described, a casing having an open end adapted to be connected to the Ventilating opening in a car and also having a bottom wall with openings therein and extending laterally from the Ventilating opening in spaced and substantially parallel relation to the car, and means for neutralizing any tendency for air toexhaust from or to enter the car through said casing as the car moves along,

which includes a pair of baiiie members mounted on the underside of said bottom Wall, each said member being of triangular-shape in outline and being so located that its bottom edge extends from substantially flush with the innerside edge of said bottom vvall diagonally downward toward the car at the outerside edge of said bottom Wall, said members being so disposed With respect to each other as to converge from the innerside edge of said bottom Wall toward and into engagement with each other at the outerside edge of said bottom Wall, and a delecting member of V-shape in cross-section mounted Within said casing above said baiiie members and extending substantially throughout the Width of said bottom Wall.

l1. A ventilator adapted to be associated with a Ventilating opening in a car, or the like, which comprises a casing having an open end adapted to be directly connected to the Ventilating opening, and having a bottom Wall disposed in spaced and substantially parallel relation to the car, Said bottom Wall being provided With angular ridges extending laterally substantially throughout the Width of said bottom wall, the sides of said ridges being provided With openings to form an open bottom Wall, and means for normally preventing exhaust of air from or entry of air to the oar through said casing which comprises a member of T-shape in cross-section extending laterally and centrally throughout the Width of said bottom wall, said member being so positioned that its T-head portion is located Within said casing and its T-stem portion, in part, is located beneath said bottom wall with its bottom edge extending diagonally downward from the innerside edge of said bottom wall toward the car at the outerside of said bottom Wall.

12. A ventilator adapted to be associated with the Ventilating opening of a car, or the like, which comprises a casing having an open end adapted to be connected to the Ventilating opening, and also having a bottom wall extending laterally from the Ventilating opening in spaced relation to and substantially parallel With the car, said bottom Wall having a plurality of openings therein through which there is, normally, a tendency to exhaust air as the car moves along, and means for neutralizing said exhaust tendency so that, normally, air is neither exhausted from nor admitted to the interior of the car through said casing, which includes a pair of spaced and substantially parallel bafe members carried centrally by .the underside of said bottom Wall and extending substantially throughout the Width of the latter, said baffle members each being similarly constructed so that their bottom edges extend from substantially flush with the innerside edge of said bottom wall diagonally downward substantially into engagement With the car at the outerside edge of said bottom wall, and a deiiector member of T-'shape in cross-section mounted Within said casing and extending centrally substantially throughout the Width of said bottom Wall with the T-head portion thereof in substantially parallel relation to the bottom wall portions therebeneath.

NICHOLAS L. WILLER. 

